An overflow field of 13 runners was entered Wednesday for Sunday’s $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) for3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs. Until You won a shake with Assessment-both geldings were assigned 114 lbs-for the 12th and final spot in the 78th renewal of the Northwest’s most prestigious race

Eastern invader Politcallycorrect drew the No. 3 post-position and was installed as the 7-to-2 morning line favorite by line maker Rob Rao. The evenly matched field includes runners from virtually all points in North America-East, Midwest, California, Canada and Washington.

Herbie D, impressive winner of the July 21 Mt. Rainier Handicap, drew the No. 10 post-position and is the 4-to-1 second choice. Herbie D, a 5-year-old B.C.-bred who bids to become the second straight Canadian horse to win The Mile, is 9-1-1 in 12 lifetime starts for trainer Robert Gilker.

Politcallycorrect and Herbie D also are starting co-high weights at 121 lbs each.

Golden Itiz a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred from the powerful John Sadler barn at Del Mar, drew No. 7 and is 5-to-1, and Mr. Bowling, a recent acquisition trained by Mike Puhich, drew the No. 11 post and is 6-to-1.

Mr. Bowling, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred, was purchased privately by Dr. Mark Dedomenico and Glen Todd (North American Thoroughbred Racing Co, Inc.), and ships to Emerald after a runner-up finish in the $101,000 Golden Bear at Indiana Downs. And, of course, Puhich and Todd teamed up to win the 2012 Mile with Taylor Said from an outside post-position.

“The Mile is the biggest race in the Pacific Northwest,” Todd said “It was the best and most gratifying day I’ve had in horse racing. “We’ve got two in (this year’s race). I don’t know if they’re as good as Taylor Said, but we can’t win if were not in the race.”

Hoist, owned by Todd and trained by Puhich, breaks from the No. 2 post with Mario Gutierrez-last year’s winner on Taylor Said-getting the mount.

Tres Borrachos, the field’s richest earner with $1,030,973, drew No. 8 and is ridden by David G. Lopez, at 10-to-1, and Jebrica, from the barn of five-time Longacres Mile-winning trainer Jim Penney, drew No. 6 and is ridden by Isaias Enriquez at 12-to-1.

Winning Machine, who missed by a head to Taylor Said in last year’s Mile, drew the No. 12 post-position and is ridden by Javier Matias at 15-to-1. A 7-year-old gelding, Winning Machine has won four stakes and three divisional honors at Emerald Downs, but only two horses-Coldwater in the inaugural running in 1935 and Assessment in 2009, have won The Mile for post-position 12.

An enthusiastic, overflow crowd gathered for the traditional Mile Breakfast Draw in the Emerald Room, and toward the end Emerald Downs President Ron Crockett took the microphone from emcee Joe Withee and said, “Seeing the support of this race is overwhelming.

“So many times we’ve been through the ups and downs of this industry. I can’t imagine all the support we’ve had this entire year and what we have here today.”

Crockett also was featured in a video to announce 89-year-old owner/breeder/trainer Don Munger as honorary steward for the 2013 Longacres Mile. “Humility, hard-work and determination make Don Munger one of the all-time best,” Crockett said.”

EMERALD DOWNS VS. HASTINGS IN $65,000 EMERALD DISTAFF

The two most accomplished fillies and mares in the Pacific Northwest square off Sunday when the pride of Hastings Racecourse-Evelyn’s Dancer-faces the queen of Emerald Downs-Exclusive Diva-in the $65,000 Emerald Distaff at 1 1/8 miles.

A field of seven is entered, with Evelyn’s Dancer to carry high-weight of 123 lbs and Exclusive Diva second high weight at 121 lbs in the 18th running of Emerald Downs championship race for older fillies and mares.

A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred, Evelyn’s Dancer has reeled off seven stakes wins the last two years in Vancouver, and she has an overall mark of 9-3-1 in 16 starts with earnings of $326,595 for Dr. Mark Dedomenico and North American Thoroughbred Racing Co. A front-runner, Evelyn’s Dancer is 1-1-0 in two starts at 1 1/8 miles, registering a victory in the $100,000 B.C. Oaks and finishing runner-up to 2012 Emerald Downs Horse of the Meeting Class Included in the Grade 3 Ballerina.

Also a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred, Exclusive Diva is 7-4-1 in 12 career starts with earnings off $194,828 for Debbie Paxton and Northwest Farms. A stakes winner at ages 2, 3 and 4, Exclusive Diva also runs on or near the lead, and is 2-2-0 in four starts at the meet for trainer Tom Wenzel, including a win in the Washington State Legislators Handicap at 6 ½ furlongs. In her only start at nine furlongs, Exclusive Diva finished second beaten a head by Champagneandcaviar in the 2012 Washington Oaks.

E Z Kitty, a 5-year-old Washington-bred, has locked horns throughout the season with Exclusive Diva at Emerald Downs, and also figures to be a pace factor. Winner of 10 of 20 starts and six stakes-three apiece at Emerald Downs and Turf Paradise-she adds depth to the Distaff. As does Wando Woman, a 6-year-old B.C.-bred who has won over $200,000 while racing exclusively at Hastings Racecourse in a 25-race career.

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